Kyiv: Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi has concluded his four day pastoral mission to Ukraine, reaffirming the Holy See's commitment to peace and humanitarian action amid the ongoing war. The president of the Italian Bishops' Conference returned to Rome on Wednesday after visiting the Lviv region and the capital, Kyiv, where he met government officials, Church leaders and families affected by the conflict.
The visit marked Cardinal Zuppi's second peace mission to Ukraine since 2023. Throughout his stay, he carried the prayers and closeness of Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly appealed for an end to the war, respect for human dignity and greater efforts to protect civilians caught in the conflict.
The cardinal's final official engagements took place after Ukraine's Statehood Day celebrations in St Michael's Square in Kyiv. The ceremony was attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky, senior government representatives and religious leaders. During the visit, Cardinal Zuppi also met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to discuss the humanitarian challenges created by the war and ongoing efforts to achieve peace.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Sybiha expressed gratitude to the Holy See for its continued humanitarian support and for the Vatican's efforts to help those affected by the conflict. The minister stressed the urgent need for a humanitarian mechanism that could help secure the release of detained Ukrainian civilians. He also raised concerns about the need for humanitarian access to the occupied communities of Oleshky and Hola Prystan in the Kherson region, where many civilians continue to face difficult conditions.
The discussions also touched on the recent attack on the historic Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine's most important religious and cultural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the monastery preparing to celebrate its 975th anniversary in August, Ukrainian authorities described its protection and restoration as a national priority.
Humanitarian concerns remained at the centre of Cardinal Zuppi's meetings throughout the visit. Talks focused on the return of prisoners of war, the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken across the border, humanitarian assistance for civilians and support for families separated by the conflict.
Reaffirming the Vatican's position, Cardinal Zuppi said humanitarian work must always come before political or military considerations. He said that every soldier, civilian or child reunited with their family represents a meaningful step towards peace. He added that every possible effort would be made to continue this work, reflecting the wishes of Pope Leo XIV.
During his visit, Cardinal Zuppi also met senior Ukrainian officials responsible for prisoner exchanges and human rights, as well as relatives of military personnel and civilians being held in Russia. Families appealed to the Vatican for continued support in securing the release of their loved ones.
Among the requests presented during the meetings was support for a large scale prisoner exchange involving about 7,000 Ukrainian prisoners held in Russia and around 4,000 Russian prisoners currently held in Ukraine. Family members also sought greater international attention for missing civilians and for the safe return of Ukrainian children who have been taken from occupied territories.
Another important request came from relatives of detainees following Cardinal Zuppi's visit to the Zakhid 1 penal colony in the Lviv region. They expressed hope that the Vatican envoy might also be able to visit prisons in Russia to meet Ukrainian prisoners and encourage further humanitarian dialogue.
The Holy See has been actively involved in humanitarian initiatives related to the war for several years, particularly in efforts to reunite families, facilitate the return of children and support exchanges of prisoners. Cardinal Zuppi's latest mission reinforces the Vatican's continuing role as a humanitarian bridge between the parties, even as the conflict continues with no immediate political solution in sight.
As he returns to Rome, the message from the Vatican remains clear that every opportunity for dialogue, every humanitarian gesture and every reunited family brings the hope of a more peaceful future for Ukraine.